The Land Use Planning Subcommittee of the Martha’s Vineyard Council has received plans for a new aircraft hangar at Martha’s Vineyard Airport.
The project was commissioned by Peter Rogers, tenant of the current vacant space in the airport’s hangar complex, to construct a 15,180-square-foot steel hangar to house eight small private jets in Hangar G.
DRI coordinator Alex Alvin said the site is currently undeveloped and partly forested, and construction will require clearing vegetation and laying asphalt over the existing permeable surface.
Although the site was identified as a potential location for a future hangar in the airport’s 2016 master plan, the master plan also noted, based on a staff review, that “the airport has sufficient storage space for aircraft hangars” and “additional hangars need only be built, if there is a clear need for additional space.
The hangar will be operated by Peter Rogers and Gary BenDavid, who will operate as Vineyard Hangar G, LLC and will sublease private jets.
“An additional hangar is needed at the airport,” airport officials said, as several of the currently leased hangars have undergone changes, such as one being replaced by a helicopter hangar, Alvin said.
According to the filing, Alvin advised that the potential abandonment of the project could risk litigation, and Commissioner Doug Cederholm asked what the reason behind the aforementioned lawsuit being denied.
Alvin cites a letter to the committee from airport manager Jeff Freeman stating that the FAA “considers that any denial of legitimate aviation activity at a federally regulated public airport is illegal,” which is seen as potentially unfair discrimination. Ervin clarified, “Airports cannot discriminate against the use of airports as long as they are legal.”
Freeman told the committee that, under FAA rules, MVC “may not interfere with legitimate aviation activities, operations, or types of aircraft.”
The project will provide two covered parking spaces for each aircraft parked in the building, for a total of at least 16 permanent parking spaces.
According to the proposal, Hangar G LLC plans to work with Vineyard Land Surveying and Engineering to develop a storm drain plan that can withstand 25 years of storms, and plans to install rooftop solar collectors are also mentioned. Details of the plan, such as total solar output, have yet to be revealed.
After reaching an agreement with MVC transportation planner Mike Mauro, the commission withdrew from the independent transportation study and took the proposal directly to a public hearing scheduled for November 10.